I don't expect anything: Shakib
From his sacking as Test captain in September 2011 to being reinstated in December 2017, Shakib Al Hasan has passed a considerable amount of time in international cricket. He was then a 24-year old cricketer, and is now a 30-year old man and a proud father of a daughter. It is not like he is a transformed character with new traits, but many feel that he is now more mature and has become a bit diplomatic in his words and relationships.
When he smilingly told reporters yesterday that he forgot what happened in September 2011, there was no reason to assume that he really forgot those bitter memories; he simply applied his new trait whereby he gives detailed answers to some questions but ducks some others, including that of coach Chandika Hathurusingha's comments and his desire for a six-month break from Test cricket.
"Many things happen in life," the Bangladesh Test and T20I captain responded when a reporter reminded him that he was removed from captaincy following the Tigers' dismal performance on the tour of Zimbabwe.
A Flashback: "Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal have been relieved of captaincy and vice-captaincy as their leadership was not satisfactory. They failed to lead the side during the tour. There are reports of indiscipline against Shakib. In certain areas, Tamim breached discipline. He argued with the head coach. We thought they could improve their behaviour, but now we have no choice other than [to take] a hard line. We took this decision after receiving reports from the different people on tour," were the comments from BCB spokesman Jalal Yunus in September 2011.
The star all-rounder will certainly look upon the past in order to be more successful in his second tenure and it was encouraging when he stressed upon the importance of 'responsibility', 'collective decisions' and added in response to a question about how much will change from the first tenure that 'It's difficult to say how much change will happen but it is very important to adjust with the situation'.
"This is a new responsibility. We have been doing well in Test cricket the last few years… we won against Sri Lanka, Australia and England. We will try o see how much we can achieve from this stage," he said when asked to comment on regaining the Test captaincy after a six-year break as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) named him for the position and Mahmudullah Riyad as his deputy on Sunday.
"Every series and tournament is tough whether it is at home or abroad. It's true that we feel comfortable at home and as we don't have away success we feel uncomfortable [when playing away]. But it's also an opportunity for us as we have a number of away series in the coming days. It's tough but someone has to start and the way we have been playing many things are possible," he responded to a query about the Tigers' challenge in the away series next year.
He was also optimistic about his second tenure as there are now a number of performers in the team in contrast to his first tenure, when it was his one-man show. "Hope we will do something good collectively. When players perform there is hardly any job for the captain.
"I am surprised by the sudden decision but I am not shocked. I can take things easy, which is my strength," Shakib told The Daily Star after his removal in 2011. He was not far off that sentiment when yesterday, answering a question about whether it was expected, he said: "I don't expect anything. And don't give up on anything either… it is good if it comes and okay if it doesn't."
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